Compensator for feeding elastic thread



,A H. HENNE 2,189,492 COMPENSATOR FOR FEEDING ELASTIC THREAD I Feb. 6, 1940.

Filed Oct. a. 1953 2 sh ee tssheet 1 z iiaz ni pe Feb. 6, 1940. A. H. HENNE 2,189,492

. .COHPENSMOR FOR FEEDING ELAST-IC 'TflREAD Filed Oct. 8, 1938 2 Sheetg-Sheet 2 Patented'Feb. 6.1940.

UNITED STATES PATENT orrlcs 2,189,492 coMrnNsA'Ton non rename ELASTIC .THBEAD Adolf n. Home, Millbury, Masa, 'assignor to The Worcester Knitting Company, Worcester, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts App ication October 8, 1938, Serial No. 233,993

2 Claims.

This invention relates toa compensator for use in the feeding of an elastic thread from a spool or bobbin to a knitting machine or other textile machine.

The principal objects of the invention are to provide a means for letting down the tension of an elastic, particularly rubber, thread,'which is delivered to this device under tension and fed to the machine practically without tension. in The invention also involves a spool interposed between the point at which the tensioned thread is received and the point at which it is discharged through an ordinary tension device to the knitting machine itself and along which spool the tension is reduced.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is an elevation of the main featuresof this invention shown .partially in section and showing the compensator mounted on the stationary frame of a .knitting machine;

Fig.2 is a sectional view on the line 2-2 of 26 Fig. 1 showing the device for feeding the thread or yarn into the knitting machine in plan; I Fig. 3 is a plan of the compensator or drum, as indicated. by the arrow 3 in Fig. 1, and

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line 1-4 of Fig. 2.

This invention can be attached to a knitting machine having a revolving frame without any very material change in the construction shown in the drawings but, of course, some changes 5 would be made to adapt it to that kind of a machine. In the form shown, the frame III of the knitting-machine is stationary and there is a single f large "horizontal gear which rotates under the 5 frame and which operates this compensating device. This large gear meshes with a pinion ll. This pinion ll meshes with a pinion l2 on a vertical shaft l3 which is provided with a feeding gear M. The teeth of the gearll are thinned down from the normal size of a gear of that size and pitch to cooperate with a thinned tooth gear l5 driven by it to'feedthe threador yarn through the machine in such a way that there is no chance of pinching the thread enough to cut it .off. The gear l5 m mounted on a shaft it which is provided at the top with a collar l'l, spring l8, and fastening nut l9 for holding the gear in place.

. 20 meshing with a pinionli on the bottom of a vertical shaft 22 supported by a bracket Ill and On theshaft. i3 is a gear the hollow column 23, also carried by the bracket' Hi and held in place on the frame It. On the bracket III is a tension holder 25 supported by a bracket 24. This carries a vertical "shaft 26 on which a flat spring tension. device 5 21 is mounted. This tension device is not described in detail as ordinary tension devices can be used at this point. This is only the point for evening up the tension as the thread gets into position to go between the rollers l4 and I5. 10

Also projecting upwardly from the column 23 is a bracket 28 which carries the whole framework 29 within which is carried the compensating cylinder 30. This compensating cylinder in the present instance. is a wooden cylinder on 18 which the thread is wound slightly at an incline. The frame 29, which carries this compensator, is provided with eyelets 3|. The thread coming directly from a spool 'or bobbin, is stretched to its elastic limit, or nearly so. Preferably it is of go rubber, either bare rubber or rubber covered with a textile covering. It is brought into the machine through the top earthenware eyelet 3| of the frame 29 to the surface of the cylinder, and

through a centrally pivoted depending arm 32, 25

having eyelets 33. It passes around the cylinder three or four times and through an eyelet each time to keep it in order and out from the. cylinder and finally to an eyelet 34 on a bracket .35 and then down to an eye on the bracket 25, 3

'frame 29 above it at the center. It is' intended for adjustment and it is set up for theproper adjustment and then a screw. 36 tightened to keep the adjustmentcorrect during the opera,-

tion of the device.

This device feeds elastic. thread to the compensator, .takesthe stretch out of the thread and leaves it almost in a loose condition from which point it is fed to the machine through so the gears 14 and IS. The adjustment that has been mentioned can take placereadily without bothering with the rest of the machine.

Having thus described my invention and the advantages thereof, I do not wish to be limited to the details herein disclosed, otherwise than i as set forth in the claims, but what I claim is:

1. In a compensating device for feeding elasltic threads, the combination with the main gear shaft driven by said pinion and having a thread feeding means driven thereby, a second shaft, the latter having fixed thereto a comparatively large diameter cylinder having a smooth, continuous, uninterrupted periphery, operative connections between the shafts to rotate the second shaft at a much higher speed than the first shaft. whereby the surface speed of the cylinder is much greater than the rate of feed of the thread, a frame carried by the knitting machine and supporting said shafts. means for guiding an elastic thread from its spool to the cylinder and leading the thread a plurality of times around the cylinder, whereby friction is created between the advancing thread and the much faster moving surface of the rotating cylinder, and means to vary the degree of this friction at the will of the operator. 7

2. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein the last mentioned means comprises a circumferentially adjustable guide arranged longitudinally of the cylinder and having a plurality of passages for guiding and separating the thread from the surface of the cylinder, thru an are, said are being variable by the circumferential adjustment.

ADOLFEHENNE. 

